2011 Rugby World Cup squads
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was an international rugby union tournament played in New Zealand from 9 September to 23 October 2011. Each of the 20 competing nations was required to confirm its 30-man squad by 23 August; only players in these squads were eligible to take part in the tournament.
Players could be replaced for medical or compassionate reasons, but they would be unable to return to the squad. Any replacement players had an enforced stand-down period of 48 hours before they could take the field.
Players marked (c) were the nominated captains for their teams. Number of caps and players' ages are indicated as of 9 September 2011, the tournament's opening day.
The tournament was played during the Super Rugby off-season. Players who were released or changed clubs are out-of-contract with their clubs and finished with their 2011 clubs, and in-contract with their national unions and/or future clubs for the 2012 (2011–12 in the Northern Hemisphere) season. Players were listed with their current affiliations as of the opening day of the tournament on 9 September (with some on-going updates during the tournament).
Three squads were made up entirely of players from home-based clubs. Two of these, Australia and New Zealand, had players who signed with overseas clubs for the 2011–12 northern hemisphere season. However, all players on both squads played for clubs within their country, either in Super Rugby or New Zealand's domestic ITM Cup, in the preceding 2011 season. In addition, these players remained under contract with their national unions until the end of the World Cup. The third such squad, France, consists entirely of players under contract with French clubs in both 2010–11 and 2011–12.
Pool A
Canada
Canada's 30-man squad for the tournament was named on 8 July.[1]
Head coach:
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
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France
Marc Lièvremont announced his 31-man France squad for the tournament on 21 August.[2] David Skrela was injured and subsequently replaced by Jean-Marc Doussain.[3]
Head coach:
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
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Japan
Japan's 30-man squad for the tournament was named on 22 August.[4] Justin Ives and Ryukoliniasi Holani were ruled out with injury, they were replaced by Yuji Kitagawa and Toetsu Taufa.[5] Tomoki Yoshida and Yuta Imamura were ruled out with injury, they were replaced by Ippei Asada and Bryce Robins.[6]
Head coach:
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
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New Zealand
New Zealand's 30-man squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup was announced on 23 August.[7]
On 1 October, Dan Carter sustained a tournament-ending groin injury and was replaced in the squad by Aaron Cruden.[8]
On 9 October, Mils Muliaina sustained a shoulder fracture and Colin Slade suffered a groin tear. Stephen Donald and Hosea Gear were called into the squad to replace them.[9]
Squad and caps are current as of 10 October 2011.
Head coach:
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Tonga
Tonga's 30-man RWC squad was announced on 23 August. Chairman Bob Tuckey allegedly resigned over the proposed selection of former captain Nili Latu.[10]
Head coach:
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
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Pool B
Argentina
Argentina named their squad for the tournament on 10 August 2011.[11] Alvaro Galindo was ruled out with injury and replaced by Genaro Fessia.[12] Gonzalo Tiesi was injured during the England game, he was replaced by Lucas Borges.[13]
Head coach:
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
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England
Martin Johnson announced England's 30-man squad on 22 August.[14] Andrew Sheridan was ruled out due to injury and was replaced by Thomas Waldrom on 25 September.[15]
Team manager:
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
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Georgia
Georgia named their 30-man squad on 22 August.[16]
Head coach:
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
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Romania
Romania's 30-man RWC squad.[17] Cătălin Fercu was forced to withdraw after his fear of flying prevented him from travelling to New Zealand; Adrian Apostol replaced him.[18]
Head coach:
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
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Scotland
Scotland's 30-man squad was announced on 22 August 2011.[19]
Head coach:
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
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Pool C
Australia
The 30-man squad for the RWC was announced on 18 August, with James Horwill replacing Rocky Elsom as the new captain.[20] Wycliff Palu and Drew Mitchell were ruled out after the Russia test, Hodgson and Turner replaced them.[21]
Head coach:
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
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Ireland
Ireland's 30-man squad for the tournament was announced on 22 August 2011.[22] Shane Jennings was called up to replace David Wallace after the latter suffered a knee injury in Ireland's final warm-up Test against England.[23] On 14 September Damien Varley was called up to replace Jerry Flannery after Flannery tore his left calf muscle during a training session.[24]
Head coach:
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
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Italy
Nick Mallett announced his 30-man squad for the tournament on 22 July.[25] Tommaso D'Apice returned to Italy after damaging ligaments in his left knee and was replaced by Franco Sbaraglini.[26]
Head coach:
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
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Russia
Russia announced their 30-man squad for the tournament on 23 August.[27] Igor Galinovskiy was ruled out with a broken leg, Sergey Trishin replaced him.[28]
Head coach:
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
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United States
Eddie O'Sullivan announced his 30-man squad for the tournament on 22 August.[29]
Head coach:
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
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Pool D
Fiji
Fiji's 30-man World Cup squad.[30]
Head coach:
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
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Namibia
Namibia's 30-man Rugby World Cup squad.[31]
Head coach:
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
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Samoa
Coach Fuimaono Tafua's 30-man Samoa squad for the tournament was announced on 24 August.[32]
Head coach:
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
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South Africa
On 23 August, South Africa named a 30-man squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.[33] Zane Kirchner replaced the injured François Steyn on 2 October.[34]
Head coach:
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
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Wales
On 22 August, Wales named a 30-man squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.[35]
Head coach:
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
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Player statistics
Player representation by club
Players | Clubs |
---|---|
14 | |
13 | |
12 | |
11 | |
10 |
Player representation by league
League | Players | Percent | Outside national squad |
---|---|---|---|
Total | 600 | ||
126 | 21% | 96 | |
Celtic League | 105 | 18% | 13 |
81 | 14% | 55 | |
48 | 8% | 18 | |
36 | 6% | 7 | |
35 | 6% | 5 | |
35 | 6% | 8 | |
22 | 4% | 2 | |
22 | 4% | — | |
Others | 90 | 15% |
Average age of squads
Average age | Countries |
---|---|
26 | Australia, United States, Wales |
27 | Canada, Fiji, Georgia, Namibia, Russia |
28 | Argentina, England, France, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Romania, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, Tonga |
29 | Ireland |
Taylor Paris of Canada was the youngest player named to a squad at 18, while Russia's Viacheslav Grachev, 38, was the oldest. However, Paris did not appear in any of Canada's matches,[36] making Wales' 19-year-old George North the youngest to actually appear in the World Cup.
Coaches representation by country
Number | Country | Coaches |
---|---|---|
6 | Kieran Crowley, Robbie Deans, Warren Gatland, Graham Henry, John Kirwan, Isitolo Maka | |
2 | Martin Johnson, Andy Robinson | |
Declan Kidney, Eddie O'Sullivan | ||
Peter de Villiers, Nick Mallett | ||
1 | 8 countries |
Squad caps
Pos. | Caps | Country | Most capped player |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 1224 | Victor Matfield (107) | |
2 | 1139 | Mils Muliaina (98), Richie McCaw (100) | |
3 | 1068 | Brian O'Driscoll (113) | |
4 | 1038 | Chris Paterson (105) | |
5 | 1036 | Irakli Abuseridze (72) | |
6 | 1011 | Damien Traille (83) | |
7 | 1008 | Andrea Lo Cicero (88) | |
8 | 896 | Jonny Wilkinson (86) | |
9 | 865 | Stephen Jones (100) | |
10 | 863 | Cristian Petre (77) | |
11 | 820 | Alexander Khrokin (67) | |
12 | 811 | Nathan Sharpe (95) | |
13 | 685 | Hirotoki Onozawa (64) | |
14 | 582 | Mario Ledesma (78) | |
15 | 475 | Ed Fairhurst (49) | |
16 | 444 | Mike MacDonald (62) | |
17 | 408 | Nicky Little (67) | |
18 | 397 | Mahonri Schwalger (36) | |
19 | 366 | Hugo Horn (31) | |
20 | 300 | Aleki Lutui, Ephraim Taukafa (30) |
South Africa had the most capped side in the World Cup with 1,224 caps. The most-capped player at the tournament was Brian O'Driscoll of Ireland, who entered the event with 113 caps for Ireland (not counting his appearances with the British and Irish Lions). Second on this list was his teammate Ronan O'Gara with 111.
Notes and references
- "Canada submit their RWC squad". Planet Rugby. 8 July 2011.
- "France cut Domingo and Marconnet". Planet Rugby. 21 August 2011.
- "Skrela blow for Les Bleus". Planet Rugby. 14 September 2011.
- "Kirwan wants two wins from Japan". Planet Rugby. 22 August 2011. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- "Japan suffer second RWC ending injury". ESPN Scrum. 11 September 2011.
- "Back-up Blossoms called up". Yomiuri. 19 September 2011.
- "Vito sneaks into World Cup 30". Planet Rugby. 23 August 2011. Archived from the original on 23 September 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
- "All Blacks' worst fears confirmed". The New Zealand Herald. 1 October 2011.
- "All Blacks: Donald & Gear called up". The New Zealand Herald. 1 October 2011.
- "Tonga name 30, chairman resigns?". Planet Rugby. 23 August 2011.
- "Hernandez to miss World Cup". Planet Rugby. 10 August 2011.
- "Back-row change in Argentina squad". Planet Rugby. 29 August 2011.
- "Injury count on the rise at Rugby World Cup". Google News. 12 September 2011.
- "England agony for Flutey and Fourie". Planet Rugby. 22 August 2011. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- "Waldrom replaces Sheridan in RWC squad". ESPN Scrum. 25 September 2011.
- "Georgia squad has French flavour". Planet Rugby. 23 August 2011.
- "Romania bolstered by Perpignan pair". IRB. 23 August 2011. Archived from the original on 25 August 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- "Fear of flying ends World Cup dream". Planet Rugby. 31 August 2011. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- "Kellock leads 30-strong Scotland". Planet Rugby. 22 August 2011. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- "Elsom hands over reins to Horwill". Planet Rugby. 18 August 2011.
- "Wallabies call up Turner and Hodgson". Planet Rugby. 2 October 2011.
- "O'Leary out, Murphy in for Ireland". Planet Rugby. 22 August 2011.
- "Jennings gets World Cup call". Planet Rugby. 28 August 2011.
- "Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery out of World Cup". BBC Sport. 14 October 2011.
- "Italy unveil World Cup squad". Planet Rugby. 22 July 2011.
- "Sbaraglini answers Italy's SOS". Planet Rugby. 23 September 2011.
- "Russia unveil World Cup squad". Planet Rugby. 23 August 2011. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
- "Russia centre Galinovsky ruled out of World Cup". LA Times. 1 September 2011.
- "USA submit their RWC 30". Planet Rugby. 22 August 2011.
- "Fiji reveal World Cup squad". Planet Rugby. 20 August 2011. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- "Burger leads Namibian 30". Planet Rugby. 18 August 2011. Archived from the original on 10 October 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- "Samoa name strong squad". Planet Rugby. 24 August 2011. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- "Defending champs show their hand". Planet Rugby. 23 August 2011. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
- "Kirchner in for crocked Steyn". Planet Rugby. 2 October 2011.
- "Warburton leads Welsh 30". Planet Rugby. 22 August 2011.
- "Statsguru / Player analysis / Taylor Paris / Test matches". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 21 October 2011.